Insulin Line

[military spouse]

I'm curious how each of your facilities runs insulin line. Specifically, do you allow inmates to complete the FSBS with the glucometer, do you clean glucometer between inmates, wear gloves while administering insulin? I've seen a variety of techniques....

Thanks!

[Noodle411, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm responding based on my own experience as a former correctional nurse that worked in a New York State maximum B security facility in a long-term care unit (last worked at that facility in 2017).

1. "... do you allow inmates to complete the FSBS with the glucometer," -- This depends on a few situations:
   • If the inmate is already a long-time diabetic and is experienced with the steps on how to obtain their FSBS reading.
   • If the inmate is a newly-diagnosed diabetic and would, therefore, need to be proficient on the steps on how to obtain their own FSBS. This is especially important if you remember that once they serve their sentence, they will be outside of the correctional system (back in the community) at some point in the future -- whether immediate or not. They will need to know how to do this for themselves. This is a perfect opportunity to promote health and self-care.
   • In both cases, it is an opportunity for the nurse to observe proper technique and make corrections as needed. And, of course, in both cases, safety is utmost -- the inmate needs to be considered mentally-sound -- as in not psychotic, impulsive, have dementia, etc.
2. "do you clean glucometer between inmates, " -- YES! Always. This should apply to ANY FACILITY. There were times when blood got on the glucometer. We kept sani-wipes on our insulin cart in addition to prep pads, gauze, lancets, sharps container, what-have-you... and we were always accompanied by a C.O. (correctional officer) for all insulin administrations for safety.
3. "wear gloves while administering insulin?" - YES, and always. Whenever blood is involved, you need to protect yourself and your patients (whether they are inmates or not). Some patients will bleed a little more than expected (ex: if they're on blood thinners); so always wear gloves and be prepared -- have fresh gauze and/or band-aids available.

Hope this was helpful to you.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Our inmates are issued their own individual glucometers. The only one that may be used on more than one inmate is the one in the man down bag. They check their own blood glucose levels and report them to be recorded. If we suspect that an inmate is just making up numbers, we ask him to bring his glucometer so that it can be checked for the dates, times and values of the levels recorded.

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

Not in county jail, they cannot even keep a plastic medicine cup.